(a)  State police officers, local police officers, forest rangers, park police officers, conservation officers, all other state and local enforcement officers, and department staff members as designated by the director are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 37-15-5

  • Department: means the department of environmental management. See Rhode Island General Laws 37-15-3
  • Director: means the director of the department of environmental management. See Rhode Island General Laws 37-15-3
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litter: means garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, automobile parts, furniture, glass, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature thrown, dropped, discarded, placed, or deposited by a person on public property, on private property not owned by the person, or in or on waters of the state, unless the person has:

    (i)  Been directed to do so by a public official as part of a litter collection drive;

    (ii)  Discarded, thrown, dropped, placed, or discarded the material in a litter receptacle in a manner that prevented the material from being carried away by the elements; or

    (iii)  Been issued a license or permit covering the material pursuant to chapters 18. See Rhode Island General Laws 37-15-3

(b)(1)  All violations of this chapter shall be heard by the traffic tribunal in accordance with § 8-8.2-2.

(2)  Subsection (b)(1) shall not be construed to limit the jurisdiction of any court to hear violations of other laws, including local ordinances and regulations relating to litter.

(c)  Cities and towns may, through their chief executive officers, authorize designated municipal employees in addition to those described in subsection (a) to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The employees may also be authorized to enforce local ordinances and regulations relating to litter.

History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 251, § 2; P.L. 1987, ch. 220, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 162, § 1.